Projects

A LISTED COMPREHENSIVE STONE REPAIR, ALEXANDER THOMSON BUILDING, GARTURK STREET, GLASGOW

ASSIST were appointed by Govanhill Housing Association to undertake the comprehensive fabric repair for both 19 and 21 Garturk Street.

Both are A-listed buildings. No 21 Garturk Street is attributed to Alexander Thomson (d 1875), 1875-7, and presumably completed by his partner, Robert Turnbull, in Thomson’s own style. This is a finely-detailed 4-storey building with main front to Allison Street, returning on to Garturk Street. The building is constructed from polished ashlar with several carved detail features. Wide pilasters at ground level form recessed bays currently occupied by a corner shop with a deep entablature over. The upper floors contain single bay windows with pilastered jambs supporting a frieze entablature. Typical of Thomson’s style, anthemions sare set in recessed panels between windows on top floor and there is a significant frieze entablature to top storey. 19 Garturk Street is accessed from the entrance at 21 Garturk Street and, A-Listed by association, is far plainer in design. Our scope includes a full elevational survey including mortar and stone sampling, stone cleaning and repairs, roof/slate repairs, overhauling gutters and all leadwork details.

Projects

C LISTED REFURBISHMENT, BURNBANK GARDENS, GLASGOW

ASSIST Design were Lead Consultant on this Multi-Phase project, specifically tackling the difficult task of comprehensively refurbishing previously subdivided Listed Townhouses within a Conservation Area to create Affordable housing for Glasgow West Housing Association Limited. The site comprised of a series of buildings (tenement “bookends” and townhouses) “pepper-potted” along an elegant Victorian terrace.

A Feasibility Study was first carried out, confirming that a well-established close community already existed and that there was strong resistance to this being broken up. Also, residents would need to be decanted for around a year to allow Works to be carried out within their flat and those residents had a strong desire to remain within the street during this time. A number of buildings in the street were wholly privately owned. These Owners declined the offer of Full Refurbishment (on cost grounds) but were offered Grant Funding by Glasgow City Council to carry out essential Repairs to slate roofs, stonework and existing sash and case windows.

The scope of Works in the Refurbished properties was very comprehensive, including renewal of roofs in slate, new sash and case windows, stone repairs/repointing and a complete transformation of the buildings internally to offer amenities and space standards fit for 21 Century living. This included Environmental Improvements to the rear gardens and backcourts.

Projects

A LISTED NEW TOWN CONVERSION, ALBANY STREET, EDINBURGH

A private commission to convert a former Georgian Townhouse which had been initially been converted into an office back into residential use but as individual flats.

The building sits near the centre of the early 19th Century Albany Street development and comprises of 2-storey, attic and basement with polished ashlar sandstone facade, V-jointed rustication at principal floor and rockfaced rustication at basement level. Ashlar steps and an entrance platt oversails the basement area which is flagged with former under street coal cellars.

The client wanted four individual flats, three accessed from the original stair and one from the basement. Our involvement included subdividing the building into flats whilst maintaining the key elements of the A-Listing, upgrading the separation between floors to acoustic and fire compliant levels and integrating new kitchens, bathrooms and ensuites throughout. Overhauling of the existing windows, some stone repairs and roof and chimney repairs.

Projects

A LISTED COMPREHENSIVE REPAIR, ATHOLL CRESCENT, EDINBURGH

Appointed by AWG to undertake a comprehensive fabric repair to No 12 Atholl Crescent. This fine Georgian Crescent with its twin, Coates Crescent, were part of Edinburgh’s New Town western development, designed by Thomas Bonnar and completed by 1826.

The 3-storey, basement and attic building sits within a 64-bay classical palace block forming the crescent. Droved sandstone ashlar faces the basement, with polished V-jointed sandstone ashlar rustication with a base course to principal floor. There is a band course between principal and 1st floors with simple iron trellis balconies to 1st floor. Cill course to 2nd floor windows and band course incorporating string course above 2nd floor windows. A cornice and coped blocking course to the 3rd floor and a substantial stone balustrade at roof level. An Ionic portico marks the street level entrance with pilasters behind supporting columns. Giant Ionic pilasters rise up past 1st and 2nd floors dividing the elevation into thirds.

Our scope included replacing/repairing stonework to the basement street edge, cleaning and repairing basement steps, replacing flagstones, stone cleaning to front elevation, overhauling original sash and case windows and replacing burnt sand mastic, roof/slate repairs to the mansard roof, chimney and skew stone repairs, construction of a new cupola to replace the rot damaged one, overhauling gutters and all leadwork details.